Gordon Brown to tighten UK points based system

November 12 2009 by Liam Clifford

Sattement released ahead of todays specch.

Gordon Brown has pledged to tighten the UK points based system to reduce levels of immigration if he wins the next general election.

He revealed his plans in statements released ahead of a major speech he is planning to make today. The speech, he says, will help to address people’s genuine concerns about immigration.

Brown says that immigration is not a taboo subject, "I have never agreed with the lazy elitism that dismisses immigration as an issue, or portrays anyone who has concerns about immigration as a racist.”

His party will further tighten the UK points based system to make sure only people with skills that are in short supply will be able to come and work in the UK. He stated, "as growth returns, I want to see rising levels of skills, wages and employment among resident workers, rather than employers having to resort to recruiting people from abroad.”

However, he also spoke of the benefits that migrants have brought to the UK over the past decade, adding, "if the main effect of immigration on your life is to make it easier to find a plumber, or when you see doctors and nurses from overseas in your local hospital, you are likely to think more about the benefits of migration than the possible costs."

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